Singapore & Malaysia for 2+ weeks

Old Aug 10th, 2012, 01:31 AM
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Singapore & Malaysia for 2+ weeks

Hi fodorites
We are planning a trip to Singapore and Malaysia for about 17-18 days in December. We will be traveling with my parents (about 70 years) and be looking for vegetarian food. Our first priority will be to stay at the Marriott. I read http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...e-malaysia.cfm and have got some idea.
We're interested in covering cultural/historical/architectural points of interest. Would like to relax at the end part of the trip amidst scenic places.
Based on various threads, I feel like we'll cover these destinations:
* Singapore (3-4 days)
* Malacca (2 days)
* Kuala Lumpur (3 days)
* Cameron Highlands (2 days)
* Genting (1 day)
* Penang (4 days)
* Langkawi (2 days)

Couple of questions:
1. Does this seem feasible without tiring out my parents?
2. I hear it would be difficult to find vegetarian food in Malaysia. Any advise on restaurants?
3. Should we rent a car with a driver/guide for the entire Malaysia portion of the trip or some portions to make it easier and more enjoyable to travel or are public transport options better? Is public transport safer and cheaper than renting car and driver/guide?
4. Are there any other places that I should consider and maybe swap out for something else?

Thanks
vegtraveler is offline  
Old Aug 10th, 2012, 05:51 AM
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That's a lot of ground to cover in 17-18 days. Keep in mind that at least 3 of these destinations are islands that you will have to either fly to or reach by boat. I would eliminate at least 2 destinations to make the itinerary more manageable. I have only been to Singapore, Penang and Langkawi: use public transportation or taxis in Singapore; in Penang, you can walk or take a taxi in Georgetown but a car and driver will be necessary to tour the island; on Langkawi it is easy to rent a car and self-drive.
Craig is offline  
Old Aug 10th, 2012, 07:09 AM
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I agree with Craig, cut a destination or two. You haven't figured in travel time, so while you might think you have a whole day at Genting, you have an overnight and a couple of hours in the evening and the morning.

Options ofr intransport include luxury buses, for instance from Singapore to Malacca and Malacca to KL. I know there is a luxury bus from KL to Penang, I don't know about a stop in the Highlands.

In Penang, stay in Georgetown. Persoanlly, I wouldn't bother touring the island. In Georgetown you can walk, take taxis or bicycle rickshaws.

You don't need a guide in any of these places.

Vegetarian food should be easy to find.
Kathie is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 02:54 AM
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I would also consider cutting out Genting from your list. Apart from slightly run-down casinos and dysfunctional theme park, there is really nothing up there. Spend the extra day in Langkawi.

Also re: vegetarian food, try any Indian restaurant, they usually have a good South-Indian-style vegetarian food available. If you can find any Chinese restaurants that are run by Buddhist monks or temples, they are a fantastic and tasty alternative as well.

Be careful of asking for vegetarian in regular Chinese places - they may still add fish/prawn stock or oyster sauce etc. Otherwise they may over-dose on the MSG or use "mock meats" which are quite freaky.
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Old Aug 26th, 2012, 04:48 AM
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Genting Highlands is a bore uless you want to gamble, and further there is a beautiful 2 tear olsd lovely casino inj Sinci in Sigaore, Singaporeb is a stretch for more that 2 full dats, You shpould have ataxi with youroarentsb unless they do not mind walking a mike and stabdung a but, But taxis are inexppensive.,If you enjoy Chinese foodm though a pricy the Raffles Restarabnt of the same name is one of th best I have eaten at. Though it involves walking I suggest 1.2 mike in LittleUndia tgi get very difference.Most of the shopping, and it is high-end- is down town in a 4 block area but the prices are equak or more than the US but are cutting edge.
I would hire a guide/drive for an outing to the Cameron Highlands but check the weath first. When we went in March it was lovely with hundreds of acreas of tea planttions and rose and vegeabablebplantsfes, Mije just wants visitsors to see the Toconic Mouutins. It is a full day outing and better to make the long drive, A visit to th Petronas 5ower is worth it but get there by 8AN in a week day to avoid a long wait. Penang is quite lovely but I check the rainfall there at that time of year. We eat. I would sat a max, is more than sufficent to get you through KL.
StanKase is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2012, 02:54 AM
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Sorry for the typos. In little India you can get a good enough impression in a 1/2 hour walk.I should have said said the Camerson Highlands are in Malaysia but well may be off-season but you may just want to see the mountains that that are but it's a 5+hr. RT so you decide.We stayed at the Sheraton-Luxury Collection which was as lovely as the Westin and far nicer than the Ritz for less money.
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